Volume 4 (Issue 1)
ABSTRACT:
Microwave food consumption is becoming a cause for concern due to health hazard often associated with exposure to radiation. The purpose of this research is to validate the bio-safety of special microwave dish used in microwave oven, in line with other non-microwave utensils.
Thirteen female albino rats (N=13) were used for the study and were divided into five groups; aluminium group (A), ceramic group (B), plastic group (C), special microwave dish group (D) and control group (E). The animals were fed with microwave treated rat pellets using different utensils, apart from the control group.
The experiment lasted for 60 days. The animals were sacrificed, and blood samples were collected by cardiac puncture for biochemical and histopathological analyses. Creatinine, urea, uric acid, chloride test, sodium and potassium ions, total protein, cholesterol, triglyceride, high density lipoprotein (HDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL) concentrations were evaluated in the kidney homogenate, including total protein using analytical kits.
immunoglobulins G and E were evaluated in the serum using ELISA kits. Comparative analyses of the control and experimental groups showed that intake of microwave treated pellets caused significant (P<0.05) alterations in the biochemical parameters evaluated. The result of the histopathology shows that there were lesions in the kidney tissues of the experimental animals as compared to control which could lead to kidney failure.
The findings of the histopathology test further authenticate the biochemical imbalances in the parameters investigated. The study therefore discourages the use of non-microwave and microwave dishes in cooking and heating of food.
Keywords: Microwave oven; kidney; electrolyte; immunoglobulin; lipid profile; histopathology; rats
ABSTRACT:
The concentration of heavy metals (Lead and Iron) released into pepper (Capsicum annum) that is used as a spice in food preparation, ground using a machine was determined using an Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS).
The wet and dry samples were ground using grinding plates, while the control samples were milled with a blender. The maximum and minimum concentrations of lead (Pb)in mg/kg in the wet samples were (2.40 mg/kg and 0.40mg/kg) and (13.0 mg/kg and 2.0 mg/kg) in the dry samples respectively. The concentration of Iron (Fe) obtained in this study was between 45.98 mg/kg and 0.60mg/kg for the wet samples and (58.15mg/kg and 16.4mg/kg) for the dry samples. The iron content in the control was 0.62 mg/kg and 3.71 mg/kg in the wet and dry samples respectively.
The result of this research shows that the concentration of Lead and Iron is above and within the permissible limit recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) respectively. The level of lead in the samples poses a high risk of health danger to consumers.
Keywords: Heavy metal, Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy, contaminants, grinder, toxicity
ABSTRACT:
Essential oil was extracted from the stem of Hoslundia opposita, that was collected from Southwestern Nigeria. The extraction was done using soxhlet extraction method. Gas Chromatography mass spectroscopic technique was used to determine the chemical composition of the essential oil. The essential oil was investigated for antioxidant activities using 2,2, -Diphenyl picrylhydrazine (DPPH) radical scavenging capacity. The essential oil was investigated for antimicrobial activities using different clinical isolates of bacterial strains viz., Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhimurium and with fungi strain Aspergillus niger, and Penicillium sp.
It revealed the presence of o-cymene (0.03 %), copaene (0.47 %), caryophyllene (0.90 %), humulene (0.24 %) pinene (0.02 %) as minor constituents while sitosterol (13.03 %), 9,12 octadecanoic acid ethyl ester (5.9 %), stigmasterol (6.90 %) were identified as the major constituents.
It revealed that the essential oil showed a significant percentage % radical scavenging activity at 66.80 % at concentration of 100 µg/ml when compared with the % radical scavenging activity of the standard ascorbic acid at the same concentration. The antioxidant activities gave a significant IC50 of 61.62 µg/ml which was not comparable with the IC50 value 33.28 µg/ml of the standard potent drug ascorbic acid used.
At concentrations of 100 to 50 mg/ ml, the essential oil was active against all bacteria and fungi except Aspergillus Niger. This study revealed that Hoslundia opposita is a good source of bioactive compounds with antimicrobial and antioxidant activities.
Keywords: Antioxidant, Antimicrobial, Essential oil, Bioactive, Ascorbic Acid